Golf In The Year 2012

As the year 2012 fast approaches and golfers become more aware of the apparent end of the world, what will it be like to try and play a friendly round after the complete destruction of the earth as we know it?

It's quite simple, everyone will probably be dead, most courses will be left unmaintained and there will be no one in the pro-shop to pay your fees to.

Zombies will rule the world and golfers, by my calculations, will be outnumbered by about 3:1. This of course concerns not only me, but 2 of my closest friends who in my opinion are prime candidates to become zombies. I havent mentioned this to them as one whom I will only refer to as 'Champagne Dave', recently borrowed my power drill and I would like it back.

So there you have it, a brief yet eloquent look into the future of golf. Now please click my advertisements so I can get rich at the expense of the earth.

Tiger To Return Next Week!

Tiger has just announced via his official website that he will be back competing at the WGC-ACCENTURE MATCH PLAY CHAMPIONSHIP Feb. 25 - Mar. 1, 2009 at the Ritz-Carlton Golf Club, Marana, AZ. This will be Tigers first tournament since he underwent knee surgery last year.

Tiger left the game on a win claiming his third U.S Open Championship on June 16th 2008, which was also his 14th Major win.

Aussie Golfing is very happy with this news and excited to tune in as is I'm sure the golfing world at large.

Princess Aaron Baddeley to Become Father

Great news for Australian golfing power couple Aaron and Richelle Baddeley as they are expecting their first child next month. It's not known at this point whether it will be a boy or a girl but what is certain is the age, which will be around zero.

Frankly, the team here at Aussie Golfing are surprised the old boy Aaron Baddeley had it in him, in fact we still don't believe it, but I am sure the non alcoholic beverages will be flowing once the new child arrives on earth.

It was reported that Badds almost pulled out of the US PGA Tour event here when his pregnant wife was admitted to hospital. "It's been a tough pregnancy and Richelle was admitted to hospital last Thursday for precautionary reasons," the Australian said after finishing equal 10th behind Colombian winner Camilo Villegas. "I was close to pulling out and going home but she told me to stay. Everything was OK, and she had her friends and family with her. She's going to be on bed rest for the rest of the pregnancy."

Baddeley will not play at home at all this year. In fact, his 2008 season is almost over, with only one more event on his schedule, near his American home in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Aussie Golfing wishes the Baddeleys all the best.

Interesting 2008 Ryder Cup Images

I came across these articles in the Australian edition of the English newspaper 'International Express' and thought I'd share them. It is interesting to note that even though the Euro Ryder Cup team lost, the articles are positive and non derogatory toward the US golfers.











Way to go England showing class and maturity in defeat. Click images to enlarge.

Golf Australia Appoints New CEO

Golf Australia took a key step on restoring stability with the appointment of a new chief executive. Stephen Pitt, the current chief of Golf Queensland, has taken up the job following an agreement, which saw controversial predecessor Tony Hallam quit.

The move is an important one for the peak amateur golf body as it seeks to return to a position of harmony with the state bodies and other stakeholders. It follows a new lucrative deal made with the New South Wales Government, which will see the country's most prestigious tournament, the Australian Open, remain in Sydney until 2015.

The Women's Australian Open is expected to go ahead at Melbourne's Metropolitan Golf Club next February.

Golf Australia Chairperson Anne Lenagan said Pitt would bring to GA a great deal of experience in sports administration, having worked in various bodies at state and national level. His appointment follows a wide-ranging search for a replacement for Hallam, an accountant who was appointed two years ago by an interim board. That board was an amalgam of representatives of Women's Golf Australia and GA when it was known as the Australian Golf Union.

The two bodies were forced to merge after the Federal Government's Australian Sports Commission threatened to cut off grants to golf. However, the union was shaky from the start and lacked the support of a number of key personnel involved in the game.

Under Hallam's reign the Women's Australian Open was revived, the Australian Open was moved to Sydney and former tennis promoter Paul McNamee was hired to inject some pizzazz into the sport. Nevertheless, there was hostility towards the Hallam-led regime, which took golf into radical new directions, not always with success.

Lenagan was confident GA would have a stable future with Pitt now installed in the top job. "We are delighted that Stephen has agreed to join us," Lenagan said. "After an extensive search, we believe his experience in sports administration and marketing makes him the ideal person to lead us into the future."

Falling Tree Kills Two Golfers

Two men have been killed at Hermitage Golf Course in Nashville, Tennessee. Police said that the two men from Pleasant View, Jason Proffitt, 32, and Joseph Carter, 43, both died at the scene after strong winds blew a tree onto their golf cart just before 9 a.m. on Sunday.

Police, firefighters and paramedics all arrived to try to save the two trapped golfers. "As our people arrived on scene they reported two individuals trapped under a tree in a golf cart," said Nashville Fire Department Chief Ricky Taylor.

The golf course closed for the day shortly after the accident and is working with authorities.

The owner of the Hermitage Golf Course released a statement saying they were deeply saddened by what happened, and that their thoughts and prayers go out to the families.

Over on the Shelby Golf Course in east Nashville, the weather cut Wayne Savage's golf game short too but never did he think it was serious enough to cause harm. "Golf is not a game for when wind is real high," said Savage. Rain forced most golfers inside at Shelby. Many were surprised that what seemed like simply a nuisance could cause such great loss.

Aussie Golfing sends its deepest sympathies to the families and friends.

LPGA Changes Mind on English Policy

Last week the LPGA announced that the U.S ladies tour would become an English only zone by the end of the year. The proposal said that all players would have to sit through an exam to show that they can communicate adequately in English. Obviously this was met with widespread criticism from 'do-gooders' giving their two cents, most stating that the 'tour is about golf ability not English ability'.

For those numskulls, the tour is actually a business and a business decision was made to benefit the entire athletic body. The LPGA provides an income to professional female golfers by organizing events with prize money, which is not possible without sponsors. The policy did not state that the golfers had to recite Shakespeare or list all fifty U.S states. Frankly, they can play on many other tours if they do not like it.

Nevertheless, this week the LPGA has changed its mind on their effective communications policy LPGA Commissioner Carolyn Bivens stating. "The LPGA has received valuable feedback from a variety of constituents regarding the recently announced penalties attached to our effective communications policy. We have decided to rescind those penalty provisions. After hearing the concerns, we believe there are other ways to achieve our shared objective of supporting and enhancing the business opportunities for every Tour player. In that spirit, we will continue communicating with our diverse Tour players to develop a better alternative. The LPGA will announce a revised approach, absent playing penalties, by the end of 2008."

The LPGA already provides English tutors and translators through their cultural program, which in itself is a generous service to encourage the best players in the world to the U.S. I am disappointed the LPGA, has not stuck to their guns.

The LPGA has 121 foreign players from 26 countries, including 45 from South Korea. Five of the Koreans have won six tournaments this year.

As of the first of September, the following Australian women are in the top one hundred of the Rolex Women's World Golf Ranking: Rachael Hetherington (75), Lindsey Wright (45), Katherine Hull (41) and Karrie Webb (8).

The original story can be found by clicking here:

Lay Down Your Golf Clubs Thailand

The recent trouble in Thailand between the anti and pro-government protesters has flooded my email inbox. The latest came complete with dramatic pictures of injured people being carried away with ripped shirts and bloody khakis. The thing that grabbed me was the accompanying article, which said that the protesters weapons of choice are slingshots, pepper spray and golf clubs.

This is a terrible situation and of course, I wish for a fast resolve, however, I found myself wondering what kind of golf clubs the protesters were wielding. After a disturbing google image search, I had my answer, anything but a putter.

In my opinion, a putter would be a far better combat option than a driver would, which according to my search was a very popular choice. They're stiffer and shorter, the entire premise of the putter is for close up action, though not one in sight. Don't get me wrong, a driver in the hands of an angry person is a menacing sight, however, given the choice, I'd take my chances with the guy swinging a driver at me over a baseball bat or putter.

Regardless, the only way this situation is going to be settled is through the power of golf. Take your golf to the course people of Thailand, not in the street.

Vijay Singh is The Best Putter in The World

Until a month ago, former world number one golfer Vijay Singh had not won a tournament this year, mainly because of his less than stellar putting figures. Even that first win at Firestone was not terribly glamorous. Singh went home, dropped some cash on a psychologist came back and has been racking up thirty-five foot birdie putts ever since.

Vijay puts it. "So I went back home and made a good attitude change, I spoke to some psychologist who was trying to help me and I arrived last week with a great attitude on the putting green, I just kind of felt like I belonged on the greens."

Vijay does belong on the greens, but he does not like being there very long. "It's a great feeling to hit a putt and see the ball rolling into the hole. There's nothing better. I've never felt this comfortable on the greens."

The win at the TPC Boston this week was Vijay’s 34th PGA Tour victory, needing his putter only 23 times during the final round. "When I started putting comfortably, my whole game started coming around."

"Weeks went by where I really played well but I didn't putt well," he said. "That part of it was just kind of killing me. I went to a short putter to a long putter to whatever. I was trying to change my grip. I tried it all. I know it boils down to a great attitude change, a change in my head. Now I feel just great."

Amazing, who would have thought that years and years of practice and a positive mental attitude was all it took to be a successful golfer?

Golfer Danny Lee Should be Australian by Now

Australia is famous for swiping talent from other countries and claiming them as our own, take Russell Crowe (New Zealand), Mel Gibson (USA) and Bon Scott (Scotland). So how did an eighteen-year-old Korean golfer named Danny Lee sneak under the radar?

Danny will officially become a New Zealand citizen today, after recently becoming the youngest to win the U.S Amateur Golf Championship, surpassing even Tiger Woods (who was 19). It's no surprise then that he is also being compared to the great one, Lee saying "It's a special thing to be compared to Tiger".

Is there a part of the citizenship ceremony that allows, "Does anyone see why this man should not become a New Zealand citizen?" "Me!" Golf Australia has dropped the ball this time; Danny is going to become a marketing dream and a source of income for New Zealand, potentially injecting millions of U.S dollars into their economy, not to mention the supermodels.

Don't get me wrong, New Zealand is a wonderful country, but as an Australian, it is in my blood to be annoyed when they beat us (at anything), and my hat comes off to the manager of New Zealand Golf, Mr. David Graham (who happens to be an Australian).

Australian Golfer Geoff Ogilvy Tested For Steroids

After hitting four-under-par 67 during the first round at the Deutsche Bank Golf Championship, Australian Geoff Ogilvy was greeted outside the scoring trailer by a raincoat wearing representative of the US PGA Tour's steroid testing body, to shoot one more hole.

The two men made their way to the bathroom. After discussing boys, make-up, and filling out the appropriate paper work, it was time for Ogilvy to give the man what he wanted and Geoff had no problem-delivering big time. "The peeing for me was instant, because I needed one," said Ogilvy.

Geoff prides himself on accuracy and was determined to impress his suitor "He's standing in the cubicle when you're peeing in the beaker. He's making sure you're doing it, but it didn't feel invasive." Mindful not to cross swords and maintaining eye contact, the tester watched the 2006 US Open champion urinating, never letting the player out of his sight during the whole process.

On the US PGA Tour, eight players are randomly tested after each round; Australian Adam Scott was among others on Friday. Such a procedure, of course, is commonplace in many other sports, but it is new this year to professional golf. The whole procedure with the paperwork, candles and wine takes about 15 minutes.

It's rumored that the two men have since been seen spending time in bars and cafe around the city. Aussie Golfing wishes them well.

LPGA: No Englishy, No Golfy

As you may have noticed from my articles, I struggle with the English language at the best of times. Not only that, I’m lousy at golf. Thank heavens I'm not a woman, or more specifically, a woman on the LPGA tour!

Beginning in 2009, the LPGA will require all players to speak English, with players who have been LPGA members for two years facing suspension if they cannot pass an oral evaluation of English skills. The rule is effective immediately for new players.

There are 121 international players from 26 countries on the LPGA Tour, 45 of which are Korean. Angela Park, born in Brazil of South Korean heritage and raised in the United States, said the policy is fair and good for the tour and its international players. "A lot of Korean players think they are being targeted, but it’s just because there are so many of them," Park said.

When Ja Rule was contacted during his weekly hit TV talk back program "What Ja thinks", he also showed support for the new ruling, however appeared visually perplexed that the PGA doesn't also implement this unusual policy.

In mildly related news, the English Premier League also released a similar ruling earlier this year, stating that South American, African and other non-European footballers who cannot speak English will be barred from joining Premier League clubs from the autumn under the new points-based immigration system.

More mind boggling golf stories from Australia and around the world can be found here:

Dubai: Tiger Woods Billion Dollar Golf Course

World number one golfer and the highest paid athlete in the world, Tiger Woods will also be able to add namesake to a 1.1 billion dollar golf course on the outskirts of Dubai.

This course will be the first designed by Woods and will feature in the massive theme-park complex 'Dubailand'. The course is scheduled to open in the final 3 months of 2009. Woods derived inspiration for his monolith from the sand-belt courses of Melbourne Australia, which are notorious for being fast.

The project's chief, Abdulla Al Gurg said Monday "Our schedule is currently on track, our key criteria is adherence to excellence." The project's first stage will consist of the 18-hole, par 72 course, as well as a golf academy and a driving range. A hotel and a gated housing community should be finished by the second or third quarter of 2010, Gurg said.

Woods paid his first visit to the site Monday. During the press conference, he did not rule out the possibility of defending his title as Dubai Desert Classic champion, adding that he plans to "be hitting golf balls at the beginning of the year." When Tiger's left knee was asked if it would be ready, there was no comment.

It’s not known how much Woods is being paid for the project; however, it would be safe to assume his first year green fees will be included.

More intriguing golf observations from Australia and around the world can be found here:

Helicopter Crashes on Golf Course

A helicopter has crashed during a charity event near the unforgiving 8th hole of the Mountain Valley Golf Course, in Schuylkill County Pennsylvania.

Federal Aviation Administration investigators arrived Saturday and recovered the black box, discovering the final transmission from the chopper being "FORE!"

Pilot Al Roman and the copilot Joseph Matteo were flown to nearby hospitals. Matteo was listed in critical condition Saturday at Geisinger Medical Center in Danville. Roman was listed in fair condition at Reading Hospital and Medical Center. Ironically, the event was organized to raise money for Access Services, a group that helps people with disabilities.

The chopper was supposed to fly over the course and drop 1,500 numbered golf balls. The person whose ball was closest to the pin would have won 50 percent of ticket sales. "The first time it flew over, it didn't sound right, it was making a rapping sound," witness Bob Ryan said. "He came down and then went up about 100 feet, and that is when I saw him go down."

Ettore DiCasimirro helped pull pilot Al Roman from the wreckage.

"The other guy didn't want us to move him," DiCasimirro said. "I was afraid (the helicopter) was going to blow up but I didn't know how to shut it off."

There is currently no word what caused the accident.


Coincidentally, this is not the first time a helicopter has crashed on a golf course. A helicopter crashed on Ormonde Fields Golf Club in Derbyshire England in June 2007. The 65-year-old pilot, who lived locally, walked away from the crash with slight injuries.

More hot off the press golfing news from Australia and around the world can be found here:

Craig Jones: Lowest Australian Golf Score 59

Queenslander, Craig Jones has shot the lowest golf score in Australian professional golfing history, with a remarkable 13 under 59 at the $15,000 Horton Park Pro-am Championship on the Sunshine Coast.

"I can't describe the feeling when I hit that putt on the last. I knew I had a chance, but couldn't believe it when it went in," he said. "I've been home from Japan for three weeks and haven't been playing very well. It was just one of those days when everything went right."

The 38-year old golfer won the 1994 New Zealand Open but has campaigned in Japan in recent years.

Jones holed a 6m putt on the last hole to card the amazing score at Maroochydore, bettering Brad McIntosh who was the only other golfer to shoot 59 in Australia. McIntosh shot his 59 in the second round of the Queensland PGA at Emerald Lakes on the Gold Coast in November 2005. However, the short Emerald Lakes layout was a par 71 course whereas Horton Park is a championship par 72 course.

Jones' round included 10 birdies, two eagles and a bogey. He birdied every par four on the course. "When I hit the putt on the last I knew it had a chance and I can't describe the feeling when it went in," said Jones, who will join the Japanese Tour on Sunday.

More great Aussie feel good stories like Craig Jones can be found here:

How to Buy Fake Golf Equipment

Has golf become too easy? Have you been seeking a way to add twelve strokes to your golf game instantly? With advances in golf equipment technology, it is now just a matter of 'point and shoot', so Aussie Golfing has come up with a cunning way to add a new challenge to your game; buy fake Chinese manufactured golf equipment and take your golf game back to 1983!

Remember back when you first started playing golf, when a drive over two hundred yards put a smile on your face, or when you sliced it seven out of every ten strokes? Let us throw all that experience, training and money out the window and have all that back!


The benefit of fake golf equipment does not stop there either! Christmas time; how do you buy golf presents for the golfer that appears to have everything without wasting money on unnecessary gifts? Buy that special loved one four times as much fake Chinese golf equipment for your money and cover all bases, that's how!

Here are several ways how to spot fake golf equipment, so you're not tricked into buying top quality, technologically superior golf products:

1. Hunt down auctions from China and Hong Kong.
2. Search for auctions for driver or irons heads only.
3. Check sellers other items for sale. Make sure they are selling only one type of club, there is a good chance this is a fake equipment seller.
4. Ask the seller to provide the serial number. If they do not respond, jackpot! If they provide a serial number, you can email customer service and ask if the serial number is legit.
5. Be fooled by pictures. The pictures on a bad auction will not be the driver they are sending, Aussie Golfing calls that a 'mystery gift'.
6. Approach sellers that are new to Ebay, or have less than 100 feedbacks selling golf equipment.
7. Search for auctions for drivers, irons or balls listed in a non-golf category. They use this tactic to avoid Ebay dumping the auction.
8. Another good indicator to search for is 1-day auctions with a "Buy Now".

Some of the world's best known brands; Cleveland Golf, PING, Titleist, TaylorMade, Cobra, Callaway Golf, Nike, Mizuno and Yes Golf are being counterfeited so there is a lot of variety to choose from.

I trust golfers who want to add more challenge to their game or friends and relatives looking to buy a loved one a lot of golf equipment for little money, find this article helpful.

More great golfing gift ideas and helpful hints from Australia and around the wonderful world can be found here:

Golf: Armed Robbery

Aussie Golfing fans be alert! If you notice three stocky men in their 30's on the golf course carrying handguns and wearing stockings on their heads, there is a good chance they are the chaps that performed an armed robbery at the Chelsfield Lakes Golf Club on Sunday night.

The Peugeot drivers entered the pro-shop at around 7:30pm on Sunday armed with a handgun and a stun gun. I'm sure the people in the pro-shop were already stunned when they saw the 3 guys wearing masks and carrying a handgun, that the stun gun was kind of overkill but points for initiative.

After failing to open the safe, they tied up the shop assistant and 3 tire kickers, then raided the till and the Calloway display stand. The three men all wearing dark tops then took off again in their silver/blue 405, which was found burnt out nearby. The dark tops were probably also burnt out but have yet to be located.

They made off with about 30 clubs, all Calloway and of significant value, as well as a few hundred pounds in cash.

Investigating officer Detective Sergeant Paul Bickley, from Tower Bridge Flying Squad, said; "This was a terrifying incident for the people who were inside the shop at the time of the robbery and although they suffered no physical injuries they were all shocked (I prefer the term stunned). The golf clubs stolen are of significant value and the robbers will now be trying to get rid of them. Therefore I ask that if members of the public are offered a Calloway golf club in suspicious circumstances they should contact us".

You can find more heart-pounding, breaking news from Australia and around the world here:

Australia's Katherine Hull

Australia's Katherine Hull has won her first LPGA Tour title over the weekend, claiming the Canadian Women's Open golf tournament at Ottawa Hunt.

Hull pockets about $340,000 of the 2.25 million U.S purse thanks to a final round meltdown by Yani Tseng who was six strokes ahead of Hull at the beginning of the round. Hull hit a three under 69 to finish at eleven under 277 for the tournament.

"This is something we all dream about as kids and to have it actually happen is amazing," Hull said with the championship trophy at her side. "I was thinking this might be the year I broke through and got a win but, at six shots back, I didn't think much about it.

"I just tried to play the best I could. I honestly didn't expect to win at all. But that's how golf goes. It's four rounds, 72 holes and anything can happen."

Hull, a Brisbane native, keeps herself calm by reciting bible verses when under the pump.

Katherine Hull's maiden LPGA victory at the Canadian Open has boosted her ranking by 50 places to No. 49 in the world. She joins Karrie Webb (No. 7), Lindsey Wright (No. 45) and Rachel Hetherington (No. 76) in the top 100.

Hull has won $694,420 in prize money this year.

Here's a clip of the closing holes at the 2008 Canadian Open featuring Katherine Hull.



More inspiring news from all over the place can be found here:

Justin Timberlake Golf Tournament

Most people are aware that Justin Timberlake is a bit of a golfer. The four time Grammy winner plays a single figure handicap and has confessed that if he could be doing anything else it would be to be a pro golfer. So what do you do when you can't be a pro golfer? Host a golf tournament of course.

The first Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open will be played between the 13-19 October this year. Timberlake will play in the pro-am and do a show during the week. Timberlake becomes the 14th celebrity in PGA TOUR history to host an event, joining the likes of Bob Hope, Frank Sinatra and Sammy Davis Jr. The agreement, among Timberlake, title sponsor Shriners Hospitals for Children and the PGA TOUR, is for five years beginning in 2008.

"I couldn't be more excited to host the upcoming 2008 Las Vegas tournament and to be involved with the Shriners Hospitals for Children," Timberlake said. "We will make sure to make this event unique and memorable, and we will raise money for charity while participating in the greatest game ever played. I thank the PGA TOUR and the Shriners Hospitals for Children this amazing opportunity. Raising money to better children's lives while playing golf? I can't think of a better way to pass the time."

The tournament will be played at TPC Summerlin in Las Vegas over 72 holes with an official Pro-Am on Wednesday. The event will be televised on Golf Channel.

Find more great golf news here:

Alligators Eat Golfers Like You For Breakfast

With the struggling economy, golfers are being forced to become more frugal with their hard-earned money and as a result, they’re throwing caution to the wind and are being eaten by alligators. Take Dwight Monreal, a golf ball entrepreneur from Tampa Florida. Dwight has been driven to salvaging golf balls from ponds because he simply cannot afford to buy them any more.

Monreal has ended up with a broken arm, dislocated shoulder and teeth marks because of rising fuel prices. "I mean, I'm alive," Monreal told reporters. "I went through a vicious attack by something bigger than myself and I'm here. I'm, I'm happy!"

Monreal was limb fishing for golf balls at the Tampa Palms and Country Club when an 11-foot alligator pounced, latching onto his arm. Dwight’s street smarts told him to poke the alligator in the eye, but not until he’d wrestled that alligator for 7 minutes teaching it a lesson or two.

Trapper Julie Harter went to the pond to bring the alligator in, but Dwight swears that his assailant was 3 feet taller than the 8 footer she detained. Julie says it was the only one in the area and called it a day.

Dwight was one of the lucky ones, "I like my arm better than he did," Monreal said.

More great stories of triumph and overcoming adversity from Australia and around the world, can be found here: